Bangladesh Paint Manufacturers Association (BPMA) has demanded a government policy to stop the use of lead in paints in Bangladesh by 2017.
“Small and medium entrepreneurs and multinational companies have already assured BPMA that they will stop adding leads in paints. However, it is high time for the government to act strictly by setting 50 ppm as the standard lead limiting agent,” BPMA Vice-President Abdur Rahman told at a discussion yesterday.
Environment and Social Development Organisation (ESDO) organised the discussion titled “High Level Policy Dialogue on Lead Free Paints in Bangladesh” at its office on the occasion of International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week.
High officials from Berger Paints, Moon Star Paints, RAK Paint, Asian Paints, Anchor Paints, Elite Paints, Nippon Paints, Imperial Paints Ltd, and government officials from the Department of Environment and Bangladesh Standard Testing Institute (BSTI) participated in the dialogue.
“It is possible for the manufacturers to go lead free. The government can accelerate this by setting the standard concentration of lead,” Shamsul Gafur Mahmud, a representative of the World Health Organisation, said.
Jahora Sikder, deputy director of BSTI, said: “BSTI is working to set 50 ppm as lead limiting standard in paints in Bangladesh. We hope to accomplish the goal by the end of this year.”
“We must provide our children with pollution free environment for ensuring their sound growth and development. As a result of the continuous policy advocacy of ESDO, several large and medium companies in Bangladesh have recently started manufacturing and selling lead free paints,” Syed Marghub Murshed, chairperson of ESDO, said.
ESDO Secretary General and UNEP mercury specialist, Dr Shahriar Hossain said: “Children are mostly vulnerable to lead poisoning. Developed countries have already banned lead. To ban lead in Bangladesh, ESDO has been working with relevant ministries since 2009.”
Shahin Sultana, a representative from DoE, said: “DoE has already received the draft regulation from ESDO on elimination of lead paint. It is reviewing this regulation with government to create a proper guideline in order to eradicate lead from paints in Bangladesh.”